Snap-fastener.



F. P. BARNEY.

SNAP FASTENEH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-31, 1917! ifijfi fiwv Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

11v! yawn/v. FYMYM Pflarney m in can ra rnn'r @FFFGE.

FRANK SB. BARNEY, H RTL' Y, .MA ACH'USE T SNAP-FASTENER.

Application filed August 31, 1917.

and useful Improvements in Snap-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to so-called snap fasteners of the class more particularly adapted for securing together parts of light goods such as parts of ladies dresses and the like, and the obiect of this invention is to provide in sucha tastenera socket member-constructed of two spaced-apart plates with a wire spring positioned between them, the same being substantially in the shape of the letter WV. 7

A further object of the invention is to turn outwardly the free ends of the spring and cause said ends to abut against the opposite walls of one ofthe plate members for the purpose of both centralizing the spring and also to provide additional resistance to itsaction.

A still further object ofthe invention is to roll the edge of one plate over that of the other to secure them together and also to cause said rolled-over edge to engage and retain the outwardly turned ends of the spring, whereby this :spring is positively held in operative position between its inclosing plates.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of the socket member showing the two plates as held together by rolling the edge of one over that of the other and showing the W-shaped spring held in operative position between these plates.

Fig. 2 is a detail showing a top view of the cover plate.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the Wire spring member.

Fig. -1 is an edge section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the general construction of the outer edges of the two plates and the edge of one rolled over that of the other.

Fig. 5- is a central section on line 55 of Fig. 1 also showing the ball member in dotted lines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Illatented Jan. 15, 191%.

Serial No. 189,069.

Fig. 6-- is a detailshowing a portion of a modified construction of the socket member.

Fig. is a small section showing the rolled or turned-over edge of one of the plates as engaging and securing the end of the spring.

It is found in practice that the socket member of a snap fastener in order to be practical must contain a gripping spring formed of wire of considerable length in order to provide sufficient flexibility. This I have accomplished by forming the wire into the shape of the letter W and abutting its out-turned ends against the opposite edge walls of the inclosed plate whereby I am enabled to secure the spring action of the entire length of the wire thus rendering the snap most effective. To accomplish this Ihave provided a base plate 10 with a central opening 11 and having its outer edge turned upwardly as at l2,see Figs. 4: and I have also provided a cover plate 13 struck up into a dish-shape with an annular eX- tending flange edge 14. This dish member is provided with a central opening 15 which registers with the corresponding opening 11 in the base plate 10.

The edge walls 16 and flange 14E of this dishing member are cut away at intervals forming notches therein. disposed notches 17 serve a double purpose; first, to permit the spring ends, presently described, topass therethrough; and second, to remove the stock over the holes 18, through which the thread is passed for sewing the snap to the clothing. The notches 19 are for the sole purpose of removing the stlock over the sewing holes 20 in the base p ate.

One of the essential features of this invention is the construction of the spring member 21 which is formed essentially in the shape of the letter WV, the middle arms 22 being arranged to straddle the central portion of the plates and cross the edges of the openings therethrough. The ends 2% of the side arms 23 are turned outwardly in opposite directions and are arranged to abut against the upturned wall 12 of the base plate 10 on opposite sides of the center by which construction it will be seen that this spring is formed of considerable length and owing to the fact that its ends abut against these walls, the entire efiective length of the The oppositely spring intermediate its ends is available to control and influence its opening and closing actions.

It is found in practice that when a spring is made too short, which is often the case in the smaller fasteners, the same soon hecomes sprung and set annulling its gripping effect and rendering the device inoperative, but by employing a Wire spring of extended length with the opposite ends secured, a Wire of comparatively small size and extreme flexibility may be employed thus obtaining a fastener with a perfect action and yet one in which the Wire will never become set but which Will retain its elastic action indefinitely.

By providing openings 17 in the side walls of the cover plate I am enabled to extend the ends of this spring outward until they abut against the turned up edge 12 of the base plate, and by abutting these ends against the edge of the base plate I am enabled to roll the edge of this plate over the ends of the Wire as illustrated in Fig. 7, whereby the whole spring is left free to act being supported by its ends only to effectively secure it in position against accidental displacement.

In some cases Where an extremely small fastener is desired I remove the annular flange portion 14 of the cover plate thereby forming the edge Wall 25 on an incline as illust'ated in Fig. 6 and I have turned or rolled the edge 26 of the base plate 27 up over this beveled Wall, thereby securing the two plates firmly together. The ends 28 of the spring 29 are arranged to extend through the opening 30 in the inclined Wall to abut against the upturned flange 26 of the base plate 27. p

The device is simple and inexpensive to construct and very effective in its operation.

The foregoing description is directed solely toward the construction of fastener illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: e

1. In asnap fastener, a socket member comprising a base plate, an inverted dishshaped cover plate fitting onto .sai'dbase plate providing a spacebetween them and having openings in its side Walls, the edge of one plate being rolled over that of the other, both plates having alined central openings, a substantially W-shaped spring in said space, its middle arms being bent to straddle said central opening for gripping the head of a cooperating ball member, and the ends of its side arms being turned out- Ward at a sharp angle to lie substantially in line with a horizontal axis through said plate, said ends passing through said wall openings and abutting against the edge of one of said plates to centralize the spring and provide additional resistance to its action.

2. In a snap fastener, 'a' socket member comprising tWo spaced-apart plates one having its edge turned over that of the other to secure them together, said plates having alined central openings, a substantially W- shaped spring straddling said openings and its ends being turned outwardly, and means engaging the extremities of the spring to support the Whole so that itsentire length intermediate said ends is free to Work in the space between said plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of a Witness.

FRANK P. BARNEY.

Witness:

HOWARD E. BARLOW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

